Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath launched the Khet Bachao Abhiyan to promote natural farming and combat climate change. The state aims to bring 11,250 additional hectares under natural cultivation in 2025, increasing the total area to 16,800 hectares while supporting sustainable agriculture and farmer welfare.
Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath on Sunday launched the statewide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’, a special awareness campaign aimed at expanding natural farming practices and addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change.
The campaign, which will run from June 1 to June 15, was officially launched after the Minister inaugurated the newly constructed office building of the Deputy Director of Agriculture in Belonia and dedicated two new Agriculture Development Research-cum-Training Centres equipped with Information Technology facilities at Bharat Chandra Nagar and Rajnagar in South Tripura district.
Addressing farmers, public representatives, and agriculture officials during the programme, Nath highlighted the urgent need to protect the environment and agricultural resources from the adverse effects of climate change. He said that rising temperatures, increasing pollution levels, declining organic carbon in soil, and excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers have emerged as major threats to sustainable farming and food security.
“The world is witnessing rapid weather changes, and average temperatures are steadily increasing. Air pollution, water contamination, loss of soil fertility, and excessive chemical fertilizer use are contributing significantly to environmental degradation. Tripura is also facing these challenges,” the Minister stated.
He informed that the Government of India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has launched a nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ to promote natural farming and reduce environmental stress. The campaign aims to increase the area under natural cultivation across the country while encouraging the cultivation of oilseed crops to reduce India’s dependence on imported edible oils.
According to the Minister, Tripura has already made notable progress in natural farming. At present, approximately 5,550 hectares of land in the state are being cultivated using natural farming methods, involving around 13,875 farmers.
He announced that the state government has set an ambitious target of bringing an additional 11,250 hectares under natural farming during the current year. Once achieved, the total area under natural cultivation in Tripura will rise to 16,800 hectares by the end of the year.
“This is an important step towards building a sustainable agricultural system. As directed by the Prime Minister, I urge all public representatives and progressive farmers to dedicate at least 25 percent of their agricultural land to natural farming. Such initiatives will inspire others and accelerate the transition towards environmentally friendly agriculture,” Nath said.
The Minister also emphasized the importance of reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and promoting organic alternatives. He encouraged farmers to increase the use of compost, cow dung, leaf manure, and bio-fertilizers, which improve soil health while reducing cultivation costs.
Highlighting the state’s achievements in organic farming, Nath said that 26,661 hectares of land in Tripura are currently under organic cultivation, with 26,884 farmers actively participating in the sector.
He explained that while organic farming has contributed significantly to sustainable agriculture, the state is now gradually moving towards natural farming because of its lower production costs and greater environmental benefits.
“Natural farming can generate higher yields at minimal cultivation costs. It does not harm human health and is environmentally sustainable. Considering the changing climate conditions, this transition is essential for ensuring long-term agricultural productivity,” he said.
The Minister further stated that the state government is giving top priority to agriculture and farmer welfare. Various initiatives are being undertaken to reduce production costs, enhance farm incomes, and encourage science-based cultivation through the adoption of modern technology.
As part of its long-term vision, the government is preparing an ‘Agriculture Roadmap 2047’, which aims to strengthen the agricultural sector and improve the socio-economic conditions of farmers over the coming decades.
Another major focus area highlighted by Nath was the implementation of the Farmer Registry programme. He said the creation of a unique identification system for farmers would ensure seamless access to government schemes, subsidies, and welfare benefits in the future.
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“The Farmer Registry is a crucial initiative. Every farmer should possess a Unique ID so that they can easily avail themselves of government support programmes. So far, 63,784 farmers have been registered in the state,” he said.
Appealing to officials and local representatives, the Minister urged them to expedite the registration process and ensure that all eligible farmers are enrolled at the earliest.
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The launch of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan marks another important milestone in Tripura’s efforts to promote sustainable agriculture, enhance environmental conservation, and improve the livelihoods of farmers. With the ambitious target of expanding natural farming across thousands of hectares, the state government hopes to build a greener, healthier, and more resilient agricultural future.
